Description

Beta-Alanine is the only naturally occurring non-essential beta amino acid. It
is formed in organism by different metabolic pathways.

One occurs via reductive pyrimidine degradation and begins with the conversion of
Uracil to 5,6-Dihydrouracil by Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (
DPYD ) [1], [2]. Then Dihydropyrimidinase ( DPYS
) catalyzes the reversible hydrolytic ring opening of dihydrouracil to
N-Carbamoyl-beta-alanine[3], which in turn is hydrolyzed to
beta-Alanine by Ureidopropionase, beta ( BUP1 ) [4], [5].

Another main pathway of beta-Alanine biosynthesis is degradation of
beta-Alanyl-(L)-histidine. Carnosine N-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.22 )
converts beta-Alanyl-(L)-histidine to Anserine using
S-Adenosyl-L-methionine as methyl donor [6]. Then Anserine is
hydrolyzed to beta-Alanine by Carnosine dipeptidase 1 (metallopeptidase M20
family) CPGL2[7]. Beta-Alanyl-(L)-histidine may also be
hydrolyzed by CPGL2 to beta-Alanine and (L)-Histidine[7], [8].